Press Quotes

The New York Times

"It takes an impressive performance for Elgar to come alive for me, as he does in this recording by Edo de Waart and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, both subtle and fiery. The First Symphony, in particular, burns under a surface sheen, and “The Dream of Gerontius” is intensely played and firmly sung."

December 2013

Classical CD Review

"Elgar enthusiasts will delight in Pentatone's new issue of the composer's major choral work, The Dream of Gerontius. This performance, recorded February 2013 in Concert hall de Singel, Antwerpen, is superb in every way, with Peter Auty a sensitive Gerontius. Engineering captures resonant acoustics of the venue admirably. The two-disc set is generously filled with another outstanding performance, Elgar's Symphony No. 1, which also benefits from excellent engineering. There is much competition on record for this symphon including historic recordings by Barbirolli, Boult and Solti, but this new one has much to offer."

8) I went to sleep

9) Low-born clouds

10) I see not those false spirits

11) Praise to the Holiest

12) And now the threshold...

1) Thy judgement is near

2) Jesu by that shuddering dread

3) I go before my judge...

6. 05

4) Lord, Thou has been

1. 24

5) Angel's Farewell

6. 33

Symphony No. 1 in A flat, Op. 55

6) Andante. Nobilmente...

19. 16

7) Allegro molto

7. 22

8) Adagio

11. 25

9) Lento - Allegro

12. 24

CD information

"This is the best of me," wrote Elgar in 1900 on completing his monumental ‘Dream of Gerontius.’ Now, more than a century later, this choral masterpiece is available for the first time on Super Audio CD

Telling this story of the journey of a dying man's soul into the afterlife, are the voices of Peter Auty, one of Britain’s leading tenors, Michelle

Breedt, considered one of the leading mezzo sopranos of her generation and john Hancock, acclaimed for his refined vocalism and theatrical versatility.

Edo de Waart conducts the Royal Flemish Philharmonic in this album that is sure to remain on the shelf of any connoisseur.